Payton (2 1/2)

On Thursday Payton, Avery, and I headed to my friend Summer's. She was helping me learn more about my camera so that I can take better pictures. (Summer recently started her own photography business and took Avery's newborn ones!) While she was helping me learn the modes to try on my camera, she was also snapping away and captured some great pictures of Payton. At least one cute one of Avery as well. Thanks Summer for more great pictures to hang on our wall and share!!

Here are a couple cute ones I captured!! Still trying to learn how to make mine look "less amateur":) (And Riley is not in any only because she was at school. Going to try and get some toothless ones soon!)

A special visit

Tonight Riley will be getting a special visit..from the tooth fairy! After days of wiggling, her first upper tooth (and 4th overall) fell out! I think secretly she was hoping it would fall out at school so she could get a special little box from the nurse, but it had to come out at breakfast. That thing was all twisted and dangling..hanging on by just a little thread. It was hard for her to even try and eat on the side with the way it was positioned. She is already working on the one next to it....

2 months

Avery turned 2 months on Saturday...wow!! The time is flying and in just 2 weeks, mommy has to return to work:( She continues to be a snuggly baby who loves to be held! She is getting pretty good at smiling and you can start to see a little personality develop. Today we headed to the doc for her 2 month check up. Doc says she looks great! She also got her first round of shots. Avery was pretty brave although she is super cranky tonight...let's hope she lets mommy and daddy get some sleep:) Avery's 2 month stats: 12 pounds (79th percentile) 23 1/4 inches (81st percentile)...I was a little shocked as she still loses her feet in her pj's:)

Playing with the Ensign's

Today Chrissy, Lucas, and Layla came over to play and celebrate Christmas. Each year we try and get a picture of the kids all together and with each year, it gets a little more challenging. Here is what the kids look like this year:)

And here are a few pics of Avery that I took today while Chrissy and I were playing with my camera and the different lenses. Sorry if they are fuzzy, I am still trying to learn how to get out of "auto mode".

Christmas Fun

Since I am a tad behind....as usual...I am just going to post our Christmas festivities in one post. We began with dinner at my parents on Saturday. Then on Christmas Eve we began our day with a visit from Papa Larry, and then our "Chinese New Year" celebration at Granny and Papa Dan's. Christmas day was begun with a flurry of opening presents (notice there are none of the girls RIPPING into their presents)and then in the afternoon we had my family over again for more fun and dinner. It was so awesome to have so much family time over the holiday! The holidays always are so much better when surrounded by the ones we love! And for all of those that we could not spend the day with, you were in our thoughts and hearts!!!!

Happy New Year!!

We hope that everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve!! It was a low key holiday for us:) We were supposed to have a couple friends over, but they ended up sick, so it was just us. It was nice to have a quiet night with the girls though. Riley and I picked up a little "new year's" party set on Sunday and they had fun wearing their hats, blowing their horns, and setting off the "poppers" with daddy. Payton stayed up until about 10 and Riley about 11. (Mike told her she could stay up until midnight, but she was tired by 11!) Now it is just a tad past midnight and I think we are ready for bed after I finish this post:) We hope that is it a great and blessed 2013 for everyone!! 2012 brought us great things and we cannot wait to see what this next year holds for us!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends!! I know that I am a few days early, but as I sit here updating big events from last month, I do not want to be late with this one:) We hope that you all are able to spend the holidays surrounded with the love of your family and friends and that you get to enjoy these times. We will be enjoying the time spent with our loved ones....especially as Avery experiences her first Christmas!!! Today the fun began with dinner at Mom and Dad's. Erika cooked a delicious dinner of chicken parmesian and we had a fabulous time just sitting and talking. I also gave dad a job of taking a family photo of all 5 of us;) And over the next few days I will try and get some pictures of the girls and that "family photo" that Aunt Nancy is waiting for!!! Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Oops...sorry!

When Avery was born, I tried to tell myself that I would stay on top of the blog and not give her the "no picture" curse of the third child. The days seem to go by so fast and the camera never seems to come out....well besides the camera phone. Sorry that I have again gotten behind on updating the blog and adding new pictures. To share some of them that I have taken, I am just going to add them to a slide show for you to peruse:) Hope you enjoy.....

One Month

Wow, how has a month already flown by?? Today Avery had her one month checkup. She got a clean bill of health from the doctor and is now weighing in at 10 pounds. They did not measure her length...or did not tell me if she has grown longer...so I am not sure if she is any taller. By how her clothes are fitting, I am guessing not really. Back next month for her two month appointment and first round of shots. She continues to be a very good baby. She loves being held and will sleep all day if you hold her. Nights can be a bit rough, but we are finding ways to get some sleep.

Avery's First Photo Shoot

One of my friends has recently branched into the photography business and she came and took pictures of Avery. It was a long process (she was here for over 3 hours) and messy at times (no diaper equals lots of poop on blankets), but we are in LOVE with all of the great shots that Summer took!!! Now we have to decide what we would like to print and where we would like to put these amazing photos. Some of them made their way to Avery's adorable birth announcement.

First Doctor Appointment

Today Avery had her first doctor appointment....on what was her original due date:)She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz, so the doctor was pleased to see that she not only is back up to her birth weight (which they should be by 2 weeks), but has also gained some beyond that. She will not need to go back now until she is 1 month. The doctor said the she is looking great and while cleaning her cord, it also came off, so she is now cord free and can start having tub baths. Mommy also took her and showed her off at work while updating all of my paperwork. Everyone (well the few that got to see her) loved her!!!

Orange Belt

Congratulations to Riley on moving up another belt in tae kwan do!!! She is now an orange belt:)

Avery Jean!!!

I am sure that you have all heard the news by now, but on Monday our family of 4 became a family of 5!!! Avery Jean Warren was born at 11:26 AM on Monday, November 12th. She weighed 7 lbs. 12oz. and was 20 inches long. She is a wonderful addition to our family and so far the adjustment is going well for all. Riley and Payton are so excited to be big sisters and love holding Avery. So far Payton is also being gentle, well as gentle as a 2 year old, with her baby sister. We are slowly getting used to having a newborn in the house and cannot wait for all of you to meet her!! Here are a few pictures from the day she was born and a couple since. I really need to make sure that I keep the camera handy, so that third child myth does not come true:) Welcome to the world and to our family AVERY JEAN!!!!